New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-03
REVIVING EARLY MORMONISM
REBUILDING THE OLD TEMPLE AT KIRT-
LAND.
A NEW APOSTLE WHO IS EXCEEDINGLY LIBERAL IN
HIS VIEWS AND WHO HAS AN ANGELIC ARCHI-

a
HIS VIEWS AND WHO HAS AN ANGELIC ARcHI-
IRON OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
KI,TLANp. OHIO March 20.-A remarkable revival
OF early day Mormoui-m has been begun IN
Ohio and adjacent States, with view to renewing
faith in the doctrines OF Joseph Smith Nitbih the
last year extensive contributions have been made IN
half a dozen States for the purpose OF rebuilding
the old Mormon temple in this village and to make
this place again the Mecca OF all Latter Day Saints
There now in Kirkland community OF about forty
MormOns, who living IN peace and quiet, In strict
conformity to the laws of the State. For these Ohio
Mormona do believe in pol, eamy, and condemn
the Salt Lake Saints with much Indignation as any
Methodist. They propose to renew the religion
taught to their fathers by Joseph Smith, VINO hity
years ago stuck the stake OF Zion Oh Kirkland
Ill., and proclaimed himself as the prophet OF "a new
religion, which would in hundred years establish
Itself as the prevailing faith OF millions. In 1897
Kirkland promised to be the caclta oil remarkably
prosperous community. temple was built OF such
q peculiar design that 1t remains curiosity 10 th's
day According to Smith the temple was nut by
divine direction. When the temple was finished they
found themselves several thousand dollars IN deOt
To lift this Indebtedness Smith decided that the COM
munity should 20 into business. For time things
went very well, but crash canS the bank Jailed ana
the community was haras,ed by several dissenters,
who accused the leaders of bad management SELFISH
ness aud dishonesty. This led to determinations and
the entire community was soon broken up. "A humoer
OF the early converts TO MOfniOnisn, WHO oouHhV
property in Kirkland, renamed, making no
omen pretence OF observing the faith. The old temple
went to ruin, the windows were broken out the
lower halls were invaded by the sheep anu swine mat
ran in the streets and the work OF destruction III inc
uppcr stories was carried tor forty yeais by reho
hunters who carried away By piecemeaI every strip
OF moulding and every piece OF furniture that could
be taken conveniently and so for years the OLD tempe
stood n yeritabe ruin at the mercy OF man ana Deast
The few Mormons III the vicinity were POwerltss 10
prevent the dcsecraon, and they were glad lew
years ago when the Odd Fellow OF the vicinity fitted
up OF the larger rooms and used 1t Tor occLslonh
meetings.
Recently the Saints living in other communities IN
the United States decided that Tor tho honor OF their
cause the old temple should be restored, and that
Kirkland should again become the Headquarters OF
their religion Elder w. H. Kelly and his brother, b.
L. Kelly came here from Iowa, and assumed charge OF
the spiritual and temporal affairs OF the village. f.
l.. Kelly lawyer. but spends much OF his Tune IN
missionary work Tor the chuich W. H. nelly re-
mains AT home and is at work restoring tue temple
lie has received funds from the different churches
representing the original Mormon faith, and 1t Is
proposed complete the repairs on the old building
until it exactly inside and out as 1t was when
completed under the direction OF Joseph Smith, and
Elder Kelly himself does not deny that the restoration
il Loing under the direction OF the Lord himself,
az t was claimed by Smith the temple was originally
built The Elder declares Whenever he is in d0Ibt
about tho original condition OF any part OF the build
ng he calls upon the Lord tor u revelation and Is
plans OF which are supposed TO be keLt In Heaven
Under the care OF the angel MorOni. The truth Is
Elder Kelly gets his information IRON the old residents
IN the vicinity, who remember well the inner and
cutter appearance OF the temple when 1t was hrst
opened Elder Kelly declares that the purpose OF his
church he belief In the original doctrines,
mud 10 convert II possible the salt Lake Mormons
poygamy. He takes particular pans TO Impress
visitors to Kirkland with the tact that his people are
unalterably opposed 10 the doctrines promulgated by
Brigham Young aud the Salt Lake colony, and
decares that the organized church OF Jesus christ
OF Latter Day SAINTS is now spending money TO pay
til" expense oil missionaries, VINO nave gone 10 tan
Oh such an errand.
Elder Kelly not bigoted in his belief His congrega
tlon Moody ana Sankey's Gospel Hymns III their
services aud hc de .lare, that his pulpit Is tree to
preachers OF every denomination. or to those OF no
denomination whatever; "a he said " We would be
gad have Moody preach here, or lalmadgr or even
lngCrsOll. Yes. we would even allow the Hdlt Lake
Moruons TO use our pulpit even II they wanted to
|, preach poygamy. Nv idea Is that my hSitOirI Is
better than their shtnins aud am not air ld oi any
contest Ny brother and myself are willing ana
anxious TO debate with anybody III this country, ana
We will agree 10 prove that tn, Book of Morhon Is
lust "a divincly inspired "a the Bible Rel lying to
the Impu'atiVn that he Vas hardly orthodox, Elder
Kelly replied do not believe In loS heap hell,
where a big snuty fellow wi,A roasting iron roasts
his victims evenly believe we will bc punished ~
degrees; there will he graded system OF rewards.
and there will be progress IN the next world JUS ~
there this. This idea OF sending men to "a burn
n., sikIlng fryin. score line baking red hot nell
nobody make me believe IN IL. HE idea ot Col
.cttn. mad ana stamping his loot ana sending us all
down 10 the bakery. LltrI htllN 'A"l's MS u't'V'
thar his religion ~ growing ~ popularity. ahd that
when the temple il fully restored II viii be opened
again with remarkable ceremonies. in which repre-.
sentative Mormons from all over the country vii
n,rtcipatc It il thu Intention doubt, to cstab-
ii.h at Kirkland % MOruon Univ crsity and to make
this again. Us il was once the cradle of Il revised
religion. Unlimited funds seem To bc at Elder Kelly
command. Contributors constantly pouring III
from twenty thirty Mormon colonies, now pos
porous different sections OF the country. The head
OF the church ia Joseph Smith, OF Iowa lie is son
of the original Joe smith, and inhcrits much OF hls
fathers ma net-m. tempered with much OF his
mothers good common scusc Before Joseph smith
dicd he had prepared the manuscript OF an entirely
new Bible which he proposed 10 have published aud
used by his people IN place OF the holy book approved
by the rest OF the world. This book is called tho
Holy Scriptures and is merely badly revised edition
OF the original Bible